Organization: Salvation Army of Manitowoc County
Volunteer Service: Since 10+ years
How did you get involved with this organization?
I was introduced to the Salvation Army through my dad. He was an avid volunteer with the organization and after his passing, I learned it was his way of paying back a gift he received. He was in Calgary, Canada serving as a Seabee with the U.S. Navy when he learned his father had died. He was allowed to attend the funeral, but needed to find his own transportation. Because he moved frequently, his belongings, including his pay, had not yet caught up with him. Through a chance encounter with a Salvation Army leader, the organization purchased a bus ticket to help him get home.
This small gesture had a significant impact on my family. So when the bank started giving volunteer time off, I was motivated to give my time to them as a personal thank you and a way to pay it forward for the next person in need.
What is your organization’s mission?
The Salvation Army is a charitable organization with a goal to help meet the greatest needs in our communities—whether that be financial support, housing and rental assistance or fighting hunger. They give back where the community needs it.
In what ways have you volunteered with them?
I started by helping at their Toys for Tots event and got more involved over the years at events such as Coats for Kids and serving at their food pantry. I recently joined their advisory board and I’m part of their Red Kettle collection team in Manitowoc and Two Rivers.
What do you feel is most rewarding about volunteering?
Giving back during the holidays and seeing the impact I can have on parents and their children. It’s very rewarding when parents thank me for helping them shop, often finding gifts for their kids who would have otherwise gone without on Christmas day. They’re so appreciative and some people’s stories leave you with tears in your eyes. It also helps me start my holiday season on a positive note and appreciate all that I have. I now buy gifts and wrapping paper to donate throughout the year in anticipation of these events.
Can you share a memorable experience from your community involvement?
One year I remember helping a father shop for his two daughters. He knew they wanted Frozen dolls, but we could only find one. Knowing how important it is for siblings to have equitable toys, I took it upon myself to find another gift. When I suggested a barbie mini-van I found in the back, the father’s eyes lit up. Just seeing that sparkle in his eyes was a memorable experience and one of the reasons I keep giving back.
How do you feel volunteering has changed you as a person?
Volunteering has brought out a whole new side of me that I didn’t know was there—a version of myself that I really like. It makes me feel better about who I am and drives my desire to give back to my community.
What have you learned about your community?
I am learning more about the needs of my community through my board involvement, having to make decisions on where to allocate our funds. It has been eye-opening to learn where our community needs us. I find myself becoming more community-minded as I learn more—something I didn’t think about before regular volunteerism.
Why is it important to give back to the communities we serve?
Our nonprofits could never do what they do without their volunteers. When you have the time or a particular skill, it’s important to share it with others. If nobody showed up, it wouldn’t get done.
What advice would you give other colleagues looking to start volunteering?
Find something that is important to you and get involved. I think back to my father’s experience where The Salvation Army paid for his bus ticket home. He used that experience to drive his volunteerism later in life as he paid it forward to those who helped him. He found his passion as did I, and I now give hundreds of hours of my time because I enjoy it.